Tripod-head.



PATENTED DEC. 31, 1907.

E. R. WRIGHT.

TRIPOD HEAD.

APPLICATION FILED APE.15,1907.

EMMETT R. WRIGHT, OF PARK CITY, UTAH.

T IPOD-mm);

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31,- 1907.

Application filed April 15. 1907- Serial No. 368.131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LEMMETT R. WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Park City, in the county of Summit and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tripod-Heads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to photographic cameras and refers especially to means for attaching the camera to the tripod, such device constituting the tripod head.

The chief objects of my invention are to provide an adjustable tri od head that will e adapted to receive an hold acamera of any size within its capacity; to furnish means for readily and easily attaching and removing the camera stand; to provide a universal joint between the stand and camera holder so that the axis of the lens may be inclined at any angle either vertical or horizontal and furnishing mechanism for securing the instrument in such combined radial and axial adjustment.

Further objects of my improvements are to furnish suitable graduations for indicating the angles of inclination and to provide convenient leveling means for the camera plate. 1

I accomplish the above and other objects of less im ortance by means of the appliance illustrate in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a camera and stand fitted with my improved combination tripod head, showing its adaptability for use upon uneven ground; Figs. 2 and 3 are elevational views of the tripod head observed in directions varying 90 degrees from each other, the tripod and camera being removed; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the top plate, and Fig. 5 is a to plan view of the bottom plate showing t e socket box partially opened.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral 6 indicates the plate and 7 the legs of a tripod of usual construction. ,Upon said plate 6 is located a circular base plate 8 for the head proper, a threaded socket being provided upon the under side to receive the standard screw of the tripod plate. Upon the upper surface of said plate 8 is formed a centra boss 9, upon which is secured a socket block 10 by screws 11 which are inserted from the under surface of the plate 8. A companion block 12 is pivoted to the block 10 by a hinge 13 and said block 12 is provided with a slot 14 throu h which passes an adjusting screw 15 which as a threaded en'- gagement with the block 10. The contiguous surfaces of said blocks 10 and 12 are farnished with semispherical sockets 16 to re ceive a ball 17 formed with a stem 18 which is pendent from an oblong plate 19. Fixed to the upper side of said plate are cars or brackets 20 to which is mounted a round post 21 by a pivot 22. To each side of the plate 19 is secured an are or sector 23, adjustably secured to the post 21 by a thumb screw 24 which-passes through a semicircular slot 25. The peripheral margin of the sectors are provided with graduations 26 for indicating the angular relation of the plane of the plate 19 and the axis ofthe post 21. The said post 21 is provided with a longitudinal bore which extends nearly to the pivotal end and is adapted to receive with a sliding fit a rod 27, a thumb screw-28 serving to adjust said rod at different heights in the post.

The upper end of the rod 27 is reduced in size and provided with threads 30 which ehgage a boss 29 and plate 31, the latter being circular inform and herein designated as the top plate. To the margin of this plate are secured spirit levels 32, located 90 degrees apart. The periphery of the boss 29 is furnished with graduatlons 33 and upon the outside of the post 21 are indicating marks in the form of arrows 34, placed at intervals of 90 degrees about said post, to designate the said graduations when the rod and plate are rotated axially in the post 21. Longitudinal leading lines 35 are engraved or otherwise impressed upon the rod 27 in=order that the relation of the indicating arrows.34

to thegraduations 33 may be easily determined when the late 31 and boss 29.are raised a consideralile distance above the upper end of the post 21.

Upon opposite sides of the post 21in close proximity to the arcs 23 are located indicating points 36 by means of which the angles of inclination of said post may be quickly read.

The upper end 30 of the rod 27 is provided with a standard thread to receive the camera 37. The combined action of the various points permits of a wide range in the positions in which the camera ma be placed, and the various indicating scal es described permit of the restoration of such positions when the readings have been preserved.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the inclination of the camera axis may be varied through an angle of a proximately 180 degrees, while the ball an socket joint at the bottom plate and the ginglemoid joint at 22 combine to permitan infinite variety of inclinations in any direction and enable the operator to level the instrument when he so desires, whatever the inclination of the tri od plate within a Wide limit.

t is obvious that certain variations may be made in the devices of my invention as herein disclosed without departing from the s irit and sec e thereof, andI do not wish, tlierefore, to e limited to the precise construction set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I

- claim 1. A tripod head, including a base-plate,'a supporting plate connected with said baseplate by a universal joint, a hollow post pivotally mounted upon said supporting plate, means for adjusting said post u on its pivot, a leveling plate, a stem for the eveling1 plate adapted to enga e the bore of said ollow post, and means or adjusting said stem longitudinally in said 0st.

2. A tr1pod hea including a base-plate, a supporting plate connected with sald base late by a universal joint, a hollow post piv-' otally mounted upon said supporting plate,

" graduated sectors carried by said supporting plate, adjusting screwsconnecting said post with the sectors, a leveling plate provided with a stem adapted to engage the bore of said hollow 0st, and means for adjusting said stem axially and rotatably in said post.

3. A tripod head, including a base plate, a

I the istance between the centers of said and leveling plates, and means for rotatably adjusting said leveling plate relatively to concentric with the stem, and means or ad-.

justing said stem axially and rotatably in said post.

4. In a tripod head, the combination with a base-plate, of a leveling plate, a connecting member between said plates, said member the base plate by a universal joint, a post pivoted to said supporting plate, and means for varying the dlstances between the centers of said base and leveling plates.

5. In a tripod head, the combination with a base-plate, of a leveling plate, a member connecting said plates, sa1d member consisting of a supporting plate connected by a universal joint to the base plate, a ipost ivoted to said supporting plate, means or a justing said ost .upon its pivot, means for varying ase the supporting plate.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in the presence ofvtwo witnesses.

EMMETT R. WRIGHT.

, Witnesses:

. JOSEPH .R. QUINN,

ROBERT D. WRIGHT.

0st with the sectors, a leveling-plate consisting of a supporting plate connected to 

